(Photo from New Castle County Paramedics)
Delaware State Police are seeking more information on a shooting at or near the Christiana Mall food court.
The mall is closed to shoppers on Easter Sunday and will return to regular hours on Monday.
On Monday, Delaware State Police announced they would be at the mall until 8 p.m. to assist mall staff on returning lost property Anyone wishing to reclaim property is asked to go to the vacant storefront next to the Apple store.
A massive police presence was reported in the mall area beginning at 6:43 p.m. on the night before Easter. The mall was closed off with DelDOT snowplows that little action during the past winter blocking entrances.
State Police confirmed that three people were injured, adding that there is no danger to the public. No suspect or suspects have yet been identified.
The shootings were said to have come out of an altercation rather than a suspect looking for victims. All three shooting victims are reported to be in stable condition. Five other injuries not resulting from gunshots were also reported. All were transported to local hospitals..
A family reunification location was listed outside the AT&T store near the mall, with a media staging area at a strip center outside the mall near Petco and Dicks Sporting Goods.
The mall area consists of the enclosed mall, where the shootings took place, along with a theater and a goods store nearby The area also includes strip center stores, a Costco, and the Christiana Fashion Center, a sprawling “lifestyle” center.
The mall interior has not seen a shooting in recent memory, although serious crimes have been reported around the property.
The mall is off I-95, east of Newark. It remains a popular destination and has not suffered the fate of many enclosed malls that lost their anchors and stores. Concord Mall and Dover Mall have struggled with higher vacancy rates.
The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Criminal Investigative Unit is investigating the incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective H. Carroll by calling 302-365-8467. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Corrected: It was earlier reported that the time to pick up belongings left behind was Sunday. It is Monday.